Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-11
The following is a recapitulation of the

| The following Is a recapitulation OF the
debt statement issued on the LIST OF March.
| Interest bearing debt, 81, l2a A3 1i3; debt
| ON which interest has ceased since maturi-
| ty. Sd,1S2,2lO; debt bearing no interest,
$5s2 s5s0A. Total debt: Principal, ,.Os,-
740O3l; interest, sl0,sS8s46' total sL19-
| G25.971. Total debt less available cash
items, ~ ,3J9, Isl OOl. Net cash in treasury,
! Slplis,O>5. Debt less cash in treasury
March /, 1857, 81, 33l, 20e6 Debt less cash
in the treasury Feb. |, lss7, al, 49,, ais, SOS;
decrease.of debt during the month 3, 49,
7s2: decrease of debt since June 80, 1885,
Sos lOi. ~ cash in treasury, available for
reduction of the public debt, S269, 1896;
total cash in the treasury as shown by the
treasurer's general account, SH5, l'O,242.
The evils resulting from the want OF a
penitentiary under the direct supervision
of the United States for the confinement
of United states prisoners, has been re-
! peatedly brought 10 the attention of con
gress, but nothing has ever been accom-
plished TO change the present prac-
tice OF boarding them at differ
ent state institutions. The house
committee on judiciary have given the
matter some attention but the committee
refuse to recommend that "a government
prison shall be built and run 10y the gov
eminent. The minority report contains
n statement relative to the Detroit house
81 correction. which we give as an item of
| interest TO our readers.
"In the house OF correction at Detroit
! there were on June 30, 1888, pa United
/ States prisoners confined. To this instltu-
ton are committed by the authorities Of
the city of Detroit only offenders against
and violatOrs OF the law, convicted OF
petty oitenses and sentenced 10 terms not
| exceeding one year. In that institution
the manufacture of chairs is extensively
| carried on. and To such an extent as TO
work great in Jury 10 the furniture manu-
| facturers OF that city and state. The
manufacturers who have their capital in
.rl.a ftr oh
gan as well a the workmen, complain AT
this unjust competition. IL is obvious
that were il not for the long term prison
! ers in that institution some OF them under
sentence for life, this industry would not
be, it i, practically ruined, outside of
| the prison. IL Is estimated that one third
OF the prisoners received at the Desrolt
house of correction. Ouside OF Wayne
county are United States prisoners from
| other states and territories. The Detroit
house of correction Is IA city institution,
and IS not on the contract plan. The
| nltei states prisoners are all long
timers none OF them less than year,
and most of them from tive years to life.
Each nted States prisoner represents
/ DAYS work every working dav in the year,
and, in view OF their long sentences and
I skilled workmanship, they are kept 10y the
Institution without charge 70 the govern
ment. while any county OF Michigan, in
Guiding Wayne. outside OF Detroit pays "A
minimum rate of ; per week for board.
The labor OF the prison i devoted entirely
/ TO chair cradle and bedStead making. SO
7 much detrimeut has resulted To the indus
tries Of that state from the concentration
OF United states prisoners at this lnStltu-
/ tion that the legislature OF the state has
taken hold of the sub Get and passed n law
absolutely prohibiting the importation Of
/ prisoners to that institution. We think
the time has come when the government
| should adopt measures TO take care OF It's
| own cOnvicts Wherever United States
prisons not directly under control of the
government they work great hardship TO
honest enterprise and labor, and are "A
profit only 10 the prison contractors and
| authorities.
For many years the late John Burt Of
Detroit, and the other heirs OF VIM. A.
| Burt have prosecuted "A claim before con
gress for the payment TO them or s@OD
! a compensation for the use 10y the United
States Of the solar compass invented 10y
VIM. 4. Burt The committe on claims
Of the two houses have often made favor
able reports upon the bill, the first one
more than - wears ago but II has never
become law because II did not pass both
| houses the same session. This year new
departure has been taken. and, for the
first time, n very adverse report has been
made. senator Dolph of Oregon. on the
last day of the session, made an extended
report upon the Till. going into the
| history OF the whole matter, and giving
coTernmenA y 1%Tt and Other 9TH
| intere ted. In con fusion the committee
adversely report the bill in the following
strong language:
1t does not appear that the United States
ever purCha- ed or owned. or used a solar
compass or even made "A survey OF the
public lands except under contracts with
surveyor, who furnished their own instru-
ments. Mr. Burt received a patent for his
! invention under the pat mt law. OF the
! | nit tod IN nd ON ~ cd "a hat. ha
tit the patent conferred. That his iny-n-
| ton did not prove profitable Is not shown
TO have been the fault Of the United States
and his experience IN thu, regard i not eS-
ceptional.
In the opinion of your committee. con
gre,s might as we'll he asked TO appropri-
ate money for the relief of the heirs of the
| inventor of the magnetic needle. or Of
/ Euclid VINO made important mathe III IT,
/ cal discoveries. or OF Napier who invented
lOgarithms on the ground that such
needle, mathematical discoveries and log
| arithmlc tab q, were of utility IN the sur
vey Of the public lants. a TO appropriate
| money to the heirs of W IN. A. Burt on the
ground upon which this claim il based.
The president has pardoned Joseph Ev-
! ans, who l. serving term In the Utah
penitentiary for polygamy The presi-
dent Is informed thar the man l. 20 years
old; that his legal wife seeks his
| release. but that he refuses TO re
nounce polygamv as a condition Of his re
lease. The president says he /, unwilling
that the hardship of such case should
make the government appear vindictive
/ IN the attempt to eXtirpate the practice OF
/ polygamy. Executive clemency has also
/ been shown " II Camp, convicted Of EN-.
/ hezzlemept from the government while
assayer at Boise City, Idaho, on the ground
that he has doubts rs to his guilt and is
convinced OF his present good character.
! Oscar l. Baldwin of New Jersey also bless
es President Cleveland Baldwin has com
pleted his sentence for mi>application Of
bank funds and has been restored to citi-
zen,hip.
A true love match should not sput-
| ter
Puck: Landmarks !oot-tracks in the
/ hall